hopkins



C. E. HOPKINS.

STEREOTYPE METAL CONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1. I913. RENEWED JAN.14. I9I9.

1 3 1 3, 8 95 Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 125 SWQ SW.

C. E. HOPKINS.

STEREOTYPE METAL CONVEYEH.

APPucAnou FILED JAN. 1. 1913. RENEWED JAN. I4. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

NITE Ill CHARLES E. HOPKINS, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.

STEREOTYPE-METAL CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 726, 1.919.

Application filed January 7, 1913, Serial No. 740,615. Renewed January14, 1919. Serial No. 271,164.

b all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cirannns E. I'IOPKINS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Stereotype-Metal Conveyor, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention principally refers to stereotype plate casting and itsobject is to provide a simple mechanical conveying means, fortransporting molten metal by the action of gravity having all theadvantages of a metal pump without its disadvantages, which consist inhigh cost of construction and the necessity of taking out the piston andpump chamber every little while to clean and repair.

I am aware that mechanical ladles for stereotype plate casting purposeshave been invented, but so far as I know none have ever met therequirements necessary in casting perfect stereotyping plates.

Owing to the mold surface used for reproducing type faces on stereotypeprinting plates being formed of paper, it is necessary to use a metalthat fuses at a very low temperature; naturally such metal has to behandled very quickly, and in the old days when hand ladles were ingeneral use, it was considered necessary to pour a ladleful as rapidlyas possible. In reality it was not a matter of getting it in all at oncebut of pouring a. very steady and quick stream, and holding the ladledown close to the open mouth of the casting chamber.

Certain well known changes in working conditions have brought forth themetal pumps, which have superseded the hand ladle. One of the pumpschief advantages was the inclosing, and thereby protecting the moltenmetal from atmospheric changes during its passage from the metal pot tothe casting chamber, as well as delivering it through a nozzle, alinedwith the open mouth of the casting chamber and shaped so as to conformwith the chambers opening. These advantages I retain in their full forceby my invention.

All the mechanical ladles I have seen illustrated have been open at thetop; therefore on ulling the ladle from the metal it carrier more orless dross along with the metal into the discharge spout. One object ofthis invention is to provide against this defect and prevent theentrance of dress formed on the surface of the molten metal in themelting pot. Another object is to provide an inclosed chamber so as tokeep the metal from contact with the outer air during its entire travel.Further objects of the invention are to prevent the possibility ofdress, should it enter, advancing into the mold through the vents duringthe operation of filling; to provide, by means of overflow, measuringgages, for regulating the quantity of metal entering the mold; and toprovide for overcoming a great deal of the leverage otherwise necessaryin conveying the metal. In my present construction as the conveyer isbeing elevated out of the pot, the metal begins to move along the sametoward the center of gravity until the nozzle of the conveyer reaches asecond pivot point in which position practically all the metal haspassed out of the receiving portion of the conveyor. At this point theconveyor changes its pivot from a long swing to an abrupt one from thenozzle. This action is naturally sudden and instantly causes the metalto rush ahead, down and out through the nozzle opening, and into thechamber of the casting box.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a plan of a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the conveyor, positioned in a melting potand furnace, which are shown in section, also the rear side of a castingbox.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve or intake closed and theconveyor raised partly out of the metal with the overflow vents exposedabove the dressy surface of the metal.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the conveyorturned out of the pot andresting on its two pivot points. It also shows by dotted lines theposition of the metal in the conveying chamber.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the conveyer turned to the pouring ordischarge po sition and the metal line dotted in, and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the discharge outlet.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates a furnace in which is suspended amelting pot 11, both of which are old in the art.

Suspended over the i'nelting pot by brackets is the conveyor in the formof a bodily movable receptacle which comprises three principal elements,i. c. rece'ving chamber,

conveying chamber, and discharge chamber, all formed in one casting.

As shown in Fig. 2 the conveyer is sup 5 ported with its receivingchamber 12 extending down into the pct 11, the conveying chamber 13extending vertically above, and

the discharge chamber 11 nearly horizontal;

and the nozzle 15 extendingtoward the casting box B.

The conveyer is supported by a bracket l6 pivoted so as to operatebetween two brackets 18 fixed to the furnace rim 19. To the conveyer ispivoted at 21 the operating lever 22 having a projecting arm 23 to whichis attached a rod 24; which operates through an opening in the top ofthe receiving chamber 12, and down through the intake 25 located in thelower face of the-receiving 2O chamber. To the lower end of this rod 261is fixed a plunger 26; also fast on the rod 24 is a stop collar 27 forengaging andpushing downthe receiving chamber when being positioned inthe metal.

25 It will beseen that the receiving chamber 12 is madebarrel shape, andthe-conveying chamber 13 is curved so as to form a receptacle, when theconveyer is horizontal, or restingv on its two pivot points 29 and 35.

30 (See Fig. 4-).

As stated the conveyer is attached to one end-of the bracket 16 theopposite end being supported by a pin30 which acts as a pivot andoperates in two curved cam ways 1717 formed in the brackets 1818. Thesebrackets 1818 are positioned so that their two contiguous faces 20-20engage and support the conveyer bracket 16 against any lateral movementof the conveyer.

In operating the conveyer the operator pulls down on the lever 22 whichaction first moves the intake plunger 26 into closed position againstthe face of the intake 25,

as the movement of the lever continues 4 5 downward the conveyer islifted'throughthe intake plungers engagement with the rece-iving chamberintake and the plungers connections with the lever. As soon as themovement of the conveyer begins the metal in the conveying chamber 13(which of course extends above the surface of that in the pot) movesdown and out of overflow vents or measuring gages 31. The overflowingcontinues until the conveyer is moved into or near the position shown inFig. 3,

above the surface ofthe metal in the pot, the

bottom straight line of the vents 31 being positioned so that ust thequantity required remains in the receiving chamber. During this periodof overflowing any dross that may have entered the receiving chamberthrough the vents is washed out.

Continuing the downward movement of the lever the receiver is graduallyelevated to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the bevel 23 formed on thenozzle 15 engaging the topsurface ofthe casting box B positioned asaforesaid. In this position the conveying chamber is practicallyhorizontal and practically all the metal has receded from the receivingchamber owing to its elevation in this position being greater than thatof the conveying.chamber. In this position the conveyer rests upon-thetwo pivot points 29 and 35.

The conveyer, as stated, is now in the position shown in Fig. A and themetal practically all in the conveying chamber and above the pivot 35.As the downward movement of the lever is continued the con- 0 veyerchanges its pivoting point from 35 (in the brackets 18) to the nozzlewhich is in engagement with the top of the casting box. And as thepivoting. continues the-pin 30 moves up the cam groov es 17-17formed'inthe brackets 18l8. This second pivoting is purposely made a quickaction, so as not only to get the nozzle in proper position over thecasting box chamber, but to cause the metal to choke up the dischargechamber 1A and'act as a force in ejecting the metal through the nozzle15 and into the casting chamber of the box.

After all the metal has been discharged from the conveyer the movementof the lever is reversed, during which the receiving chamber comes intocontact with the metal in the pot as shown in Fig. 3, and owing to themain weight of the conveyer resting on the pivot 35, the receiving endwill float until the collar 27 on the I'OCTQA: engages with the top ofthe receiving chamber. This action pushes the plunger 26 free from theintake whereupon the metal rushes into the receiving chamber and fillsit sufficiently to close the space 33 below the baffler 32 before thechamber is sunk sufliciently to allow the metal to flow in through thevents 31.

The bafl'ler 32 is formed by the wall of the receiving chamber 12extending below the 11 top to near the bottom wall of the conveyingchamber, allowing only a narrow opening 33 for the passage of metal.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, I 5 am aware that many modifications can be made therein.without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in theclaims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but what I do claim 1s:-

1. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveyingmolten metal bythe action of gravity, movable into and out of the molten metal andhaving a transverse receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in themolten metal and provided with a valved intake at the bottom thereof. 7

2. As an article of manufacture a bodily movable device for conveyingmolten metal by the action of gravity having a receiving chamber adaptedto be moved into and submerged in the molten metal and provided with anintake at the bottom thereof, and having a wall at the opposite endseparating it from the rest of the device, said wall having an outlet.

As an article of manufacture, a bodily movable device for conveyingmolten metal by the action of gravity having a receiving chamber adaptedto be submerged in the molten metal and provided with an intake at thebottom thereof, having an outlet, and a separate depressed conveyingchamber between the intake and outlet, adapted when in one position toreceive and hold the charge of metal from the receiving chamber.

4. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveying molten metalhaving a receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in the molten metaland provided with an intake, having an outlet, and a separate conveyingchamber between the receiving chamber and outlet, said conveying chamberhaving a capacity for receiving the entire charge of metal from thereceiving chamber and delivering it to the outlet.

5. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveying molten metalhaving a receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in the molten metaland provided with an intake at the bottom thereof, having an outlet atthe opposite end, a'conveying chamber between the receiving chamber andoutlet, and a transversely enlarged discharge chamber located at anangle to the conveying chamber for first receiving the charge of metaltherefrom and then discharging it into a mold.

6. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveying molten metalhaving a receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in the molten metaland provided with an intake at the bottom thereof, having an outlet atthe opposite end, and a conveying chamber between the intake and outlet,said device being mounted to move from receiving to dischargingposition, and the conveying chamber being arranged to receive and holdthe entire charge of metal while the device is in an intermediateposition.

7. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveying molten metalhaving a receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in the molten metaland provided with an intake at the bottom thereof, said chamber having avent opening for discharging surplus metal, whereby the chamber willalways be filled with the same quantity of metal when completelysubmerged.

8. As an article of manufacture, a device for conveying molten metalhaving a receiving chamber adapted to be submerged in the molten metaland provided with an intake at the bottom thereof, having an outlot atthe opposite end, and a conveying chamber between the intake and outlet,said receiving chamber having a batlle plate between it and theconveying chamber.

9. In a molten metal conveyor, an incloscd chamber, mechanical means foradmitting and thereafter confining metal in said chamber, said chamberhaving a free outlet located at a fixed distance above said means, anozzle, means for n'loving the conveyor to measure the quantity of metalby the outlet and thereafter discharge the measured metal through saidnozzle.

10. In a molten metal conveyor an incloscd chamber, means for admittingmetal to said chamber, means for pern'iittiug all but a predeterminedamount of metal to escape from said chamber, a tubular extension, andmeans for moving the conveyer to eject metal through said tubularextension.

11. In a molten metal conveyor, the combination of an incloscd chamberhaving an extension provided with a nozzle outlet, a mechanicallycontrolled inlet to the receptacle, and an outlet for discharging allover a predetermined amount of molten metal from the chamber, with meansfor moving the receptacle to a position in which its supply of moltenmetal will be discharged through the said nozzle.

12. In a device for conveying ll'lOltOll metal to a mold, thecombination of a movable reeeptacle having a chamber adapted to besubmerged in a body of molten metal and having an inlet at the bottomthrough which metal may enter it, a valve for controlling said inlet, ahandle for moving the receptacle, and means for connecting said valvewith the handle.

13. In a device for conveying molten metal to a mold, the combination ofa movable receptacle having a chamber adapted to be submerged in a bodyof molten metal and having an inlet at the bottom through which metalmay enter it, a valve for controlling said inlet, a handle for movingthe receptacle, and means for connecting said valve with the handle, andfor closing the valve when the handle is operated to raise thereceptacle out of the body of molten metal.

14. In a device for conveying molten metal to a mold, the combination ofa movable receptacle having a chamber adapted to be submerged in a bodyof molten metal and having an inlet at the bottom through which metalmay enter it, a valve for controlling said inlet, a handle for movingthe receptacle, and means for connecting said valve with the handle, andfor opening the valve when the handle is operated to force thereceptacle into a body of molten metal.

15. In a casting apparatus the combination of a casting chamber, meansfor mainbeneath dross formed on the metals sur.-'

face, a bafller for preventing the said dross from entering thedischarge outlet ofsaid conveyer, and means for moving the conveyerso'thedischarge outlet will aline with thecasting chamber and dischargeits supply of 'metal into said chamber.

16. In a casting apparatus the combina tion with a melting pot and acasting box, of a conveyer having anintake, ameasuring gage, and adischarge outlet, means for moving the conveyer into the melting pot toreceive a charge of metal through said intake and thereafter close said.intake, and formoving the conveyer to discharge surplus metal throughthe measuring gage and thereafter cause the remaining metal to bedischarged through the 'out let into thecasting box. I r

17. In a-casting apparatus, a melting pot, a casting chamber positionedat one sideof said pot, a metal conveyer comprising a receiving chamber,a conveying chamber and a discharge chamber, each of the latter twochambers having a capacity as great as that of the receiving chamber,and means for moving the said' conveyer soas to elevate thereceivingchamber above the dis charge chamber and aline the lat-ter.withthe intake of the said casting chamber.

18. In a metal pouring'device, the combination of a receiving chamberadapted to be projected'under the supply of the molten metal andhaving-an inlet at the bottomfor receiving the metal and provided withan outlet or'gage at the top bywhich the surplus metal can be dischargedwhen the device is raised above the surface of molten metal, a depressedconveying chamber connected with the receiving chamber at a point at thebottom of the receiving'cham ber when in position to discharge into theconveying chamber, said conveying chamber having, a capacity'forreceivingall the metal'from the receiving chamber and holdingitten'iporarily,and an enlargednozzle in position for thereafter receivingthe metal from the conveying chamber.

19.'In a device for pouring -metal, the

combination of a receiving chamber having means for: receiving metaltherein at a point chamber canbe-raised out of the molten metal, aconveying chamber fixed to said receivlng chamber and located inposltlon to receive the metal therefrom when the receiving; chamber'isEraised entirely out of the molten metal, the capacity of saidconveying chamber below the point at Whichthe metal isdischarged into itfromthe receivingcha'mber being suflicient to receive all themetalraisedinto the receiving chamber.

20. In a castingapparatus, the'comb'inationwithqavmold,of a device forpouring metal into the mold comprising a receiving my hand, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.-

Witnesses:

BLODEVEN W. JONES, JOHN D; ALBms.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 1'

